Lakers to reportedly sign Skylar Mays to two-way contract
The Lakers used their final two-way contract on Skylar Mays after recently releasing D’Moi Hodge and Alex Fudge.
The Lakers have reportedly used their third and final two-way contract on Skylar May, agreeing to a deal with the guard on Monday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
After releasing a pair of two-way players on Saturday in Alex Fudge and D’Moi Hodge, the team has filled those spots with the signing of Mays on Monday following the signing of Dylan Windler on Saturday.
Free agent G Skylar Mays has agreed on a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. He’s spent parts of the past four seasons with Portland and Atlanta. He gives the Lakers some point guard depth. pic.twitter.com/4KGrbaQgD6
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 8, 2024
Mays is in his fourth season and played in 21 games for the Portland Trailblazers this year, averaging 6.3 points, 3.6 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game. He’s struggled with his shot this season, scoring on 38.4% of his shot attempts and shooting a career-low 28.6 from downtown.
He did enjoy playing the Lakers this season in the team’s two games against the Blazers. In their first meeting, Mays finished with a double-double in a loss against the LeBron-less Lakers, tallying 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Five days later in an In-Season Tournament group game, Mays scored 15 points again with eight assists. Across the two games, Mays shot 13-27 from the field with 20 assists to one turnover.
Despite playing 21 games for the Blazers this season, Mays was released on Saturday by the Blazers, opening up a path for him to sign this two-way deal with the Lakers.
With Mays and Windler both having experience as professionals, the Lakers are opting for older players instead of the rookies they had in Fudge and Hodge.
It likely means the Lakers are searching for players ready to contribute now and can fill in if the injury bug strikes as we head closer to the second half of the season.
Both new additions are also guards, which is an area of weakness on this team. Recent trade rumors are all guard-based, with players like Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan all linked to the Lakers.
Clearly, the Lakers are looking for more production from that position and are leaving no stone unturned in finding a combination that compliments well with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That includes players on the roster, guys on the trading block and NBA journeymen.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.